The company is substantially expanding its production capacity in China, India, and Thailand

Regensburg, November 5, 2019. Vitesco Technologies—Continental's drivetrain business which was carved-out as part of the corporation's realignment process and now operates under a new name—presents its wide range of two-wheeled and powersports products at EICMA in Milan. The focus is on the latest generation of engine management (“Air Module Engine Control Unit”) for single-cylinder gasoline engines with an engine displacement of 50 to 250 cc, which play an especially important role in the Asian markets. Stricter exhaust gas regulations such as China 4, including On-Board Diagnostics (OBD, since July 2019) and Bharat Stage 6 including OBD (from April 2020 in India) can barely be met with carburetor engines. Therefore, gasoline injection will become standard and, for these markets, Vitesco Technologies has perfect, tailor-made products in the portfolio: the M4L engine control units, which have already entered series production in China, and the M4A and M4B, which will make their market debut in India in 2020. The systems are extremely compact and robust, and also set the standard in value for money. In addition to injection technology, they also bring with them the potential for new functionalities. So Vitesco Technologies has already developed the M4L module further and made it Bluetooth capable. And both of the other M4 systems also enable a number of additional functions.

The “Air Module Engine Control Unit" engine management system is specially customized for lighter-weight and smaller motorcycles and scooters. All key components for controlling the combustion engine are integrated into the throttle valve housing—ranging from control electronics including microprocessor to the actuator and sensors. This concept allows for an extremely compact design, which is a key advantage, given the very limited installation space with two-wheeled vehicles. Another advantage: by eliminating exterior connections and cables to sensors and actuators, the system is highly robust. Just like all engine control units by Vitesco Technologies, the M4 systems are flexible solutions that can be adapted to the requirements of each manufacturer.

"The latest generation of our “Air Module Engine Control Unit” meets the latest emissions standards, including the Euro 5 emissions standard which comes into effect in 2020. At the same time, we have used the microprocessor that comes with the motorcycle to enhance the range of functions," states Torsten Bellon, head of Non-Automotive Product Line at Vitesco Technologies. Just how the new version, the M4L_BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), brings connectivity to the motorcycle will be demonstrated at EICMA. With the app developed by Vitesco Technologies, the driver can, for example, display their average speed or average consumption using a smartphone, and also read out the error log of the on-board diagnostics system. In addition, the app can take on the function of the key and thus enable the so-called Keyless Go: once they are sitting on the bike, riders can be authenticated via their smartphone, and the engine can be started using the start button. Key sharing is also possible. The M4 versions developed for the Indian market offer even greater capacity for additional vehicle functions. A quick glance at the systems' connectors shows this: it is 18-pin on the M4L, 26-pin on the M4A and 34-pin on the M4B. The increased range of functions enables integration into a CAN communication (Controller Area Network), for instance. And among its many functions, the flagship M4B uses additional sensors to detect if the motorcycle has fallen on its side and if so, cuts off the fuel supply.

With regard to the Asian markets, Vitesco Technologies has not only developed customized technologies for two-wheelers but also significantly expanded local production capacity for these systems. “We have invested an amount somewhere in the tens of millions of euros to install production facilities in China, India, and Thailand,” states Torsten Bellon. “We are therefore fully prepared for the stricter exhaust emissions legislation in Asia, both from a development perspective and a production perspective.”

Vitesco Technologies presents its new two-wheeler and powersports innovations at EICMA, together with Continental, in Hall 9, Stand O68. Experts from various divisions will be available at the stand to answer any questions you may have.

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Connected Low Energy Bluetooth Solution

The Vitesco Air Module Control Unit M4L BLE with integrated bluetooth connectivity